4 replies to this topic

[Caulfield]

Take a moment here and think about what it is that you expect from Christian Churches and people.

Are those expectations positive or negative? Does the Church meet them either way? Would you be more or less inclined to listen to the good news of Jesus Christ's resurrection if they did?

What would the Christian church need to do to engage with you?

[Caulfield]

How about I go first?

My expectations of Christians are positive. I expect them to live a life of purity but not isolation. I expect them to give generously to the poor and not seek the approval of the financial and political elite. I expect them to stand up for what is right, true and just. Finally I expect Christians to study and understand what it is they believe in and have a strong scriptural foundation for their Faith.

I feel that most churches meet at least one of my expectations. Sadly, however, it is often at the expense of all the others.

I believe that if churches and individual Christians can put into practise the perfect religion of Christ as put forward through the Bible then their ability to and effectiveness in engaging the world will be greatly increased.

[Skadi]

I agree with most of what you have said Caulfield. Especially about having a strong scriptural foundation, rather than relying on the limited stories their Priest has relayed during services.

[Lethe]

I feel like, if Jesus was around today, he wouldn't hang out with too many Christians or at the churches.

He'd be hanging out with prostitutes, drug dealers, thieves, and homeless people.

I respect Christians who spend time with people who society casts away, and their own religion condemns. I have a great deal of respect for Christians who treat these people with selfless love and compassion. And who doesn't try to preach to them, or "save" them, but just simply treats them with love and compassion.

I have no respect for any religious practitioner of any religion who practices hatred, judgement, condemnation, and violence.

Edited by Holiday, 10 December 2011 - 12:51 PM.

[passingover]

The only expectation that I have is that they actually try (not perfectly) to follow their base beliefs as Christians.  More focus on the more positive things and less on the negative and the mundane details.  Not that I have any right to tell them what they should believe or how they should act.  It's just that when I see a Christian person doing something I perceive as positive such as helping the community without turning it into a sermon I tend to think well of them.  But when I see someone running around telling people that they are going to hell because they read horoscopes or failed to go to church last week with them all the while leading a life which seems focused on greed and spreading greed and misery then I have to sit back and think that something is wrong there when compared what is written (and generally accepted by them as truth) in the New Testament.